FAQ

“I’ve got no experience, how do I get started?”

We’ve outlined a simple guide of the basic minimum requirements for various roles in the mining industry. Visit our Starting from Scratch portal to find out more.

“Are there jobs that don’t need any formal qualifications?”

All mining jobs require a minimum skill and experience level, but not all require formal tertiary education. To find out more, the first step is to identify whether you are Finishing School, Starting from Scratch (e.g. currently unemployed or working in an unskilled position) or wanting to Move to Mining from another industry.

“I didn’t finish high school. Are there opportunities for me?”

All mining jobs require a minimum skill and experience level so you will need to acquire these skills through education, or provide evidence that you already possess these skills, you don’t necessarily need to have finished high-school, but it’s a big advantage to have obtained your SACE. Visit our Starting from Scratch portal to find out more.

“I’ve got a uni degree, but I’ve never worked in mining. Is it easy to transfer my skills?”

Experience in the mining industry is always favourably considered, however, the rapid growth of the mining industry has provided opportunities for those who are tertiary qualified to transfer their skills with additional training. Visit our Move to Mining portal to find out more.

“Do I have to live on a mine site to work in mining?”

Not all mining jobs involve work in remote or regional locations, but this is where the majority of jobs are located. In fact, you might find yourself working in a high-rise in the CBD. Other roles, especially within the environmental and geophysics field require work away from the actual mine for monitoring and evaluation. Find out more information on the types of mining jobs available here.

“Can my family come and live with me on a mine site?”

Mine sites in areas such as Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy, Ceduna, Kimba and Wudinna are located close to regional towns where it is possible for you to live close to work within great country communities that provide a fantastic family friendly lifestyle. Find out more about living and working on a mine site.

“I’ve got years of experience, but not in mining. How do I get started?”

Our pathways portals are designed to give you all of the information you need to Move to a Mining career.

“Are all mine sites dusty and hot?”

The weather and environment of each mine site varies widely. Find out more about the characteristics of mine sites in South Australia one the map of sites on the home page.

“Will I have to work underground?”

Just a small percentage of jobs in the mining industry involve work underground. Many mine sites within South Australia have open cut elements to their mining method and at all sites there are plenty of “above ground” roles. For more information about roles in the mining industry, click here.

“I’ve heard that mine sites are dangerous.”

Major incidents on mine sites are extremely rare and the safety of workers on mine sites is the number one priority for operators and other businesses involved in the mining industry. This ‘front of mind’ approach to Occupational Health and Work Safety is reinforced with pre-work “tool-box” meetings and stringent hazard reporting. Job applicants with training in OHWS are well regarded within the industry.

“I have a friend that got a job without having any skills. Why isn’t it that easy for me?”

It’s unlikely that your friend didn’t possess any relevant skills to perform a particular role. Securing a job in the mining industry requires the right qualifications, skills and aptitude for each particular role. The skills and experience required for each role in the mining industry vary widely, and rapid growth means that many mining operators provide pre-job training as part of a negotiated package. Find out more about Starting from Scratch.

“I’ve sent my resume to lots of mining companies without a response. What’s going on?”

For each single job advertised in the mining industry there can be in excess of 5,000 applicants and most operators don’t have the in-house resources to review this number of applications. There are a number of more effective pathways, which we’ve outlined here. The first step is to check that you have the right skills and qualifications for the role you have applied for. You can do that here.